Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue

Winter Skye

January 24, 2021 by Ogee

Two weeks ago, the asters and Mexican marigolds were still in bloom. Mother Nature can so easily lull Northern California gardeners into false hope of early spring. The narcissus have flowered, the tulips, hyacinths and iris are rapidly making their way. But grey skies and a cold north wind blew in today, with the promise of a hard freeze Monday night. I was there early for puppy duty. German Shepherd, Annie and her newborns are just visiting. Found stray and […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Dog foster, Puppies, Winter Garden

A Place You Called Home

January 10, 2021 by Ogee

We all know the story. When you drove out to the property for the first time, you said: “I am home.” Driving out to the rescue today, I saw again why you loved this piece of open country so. The landscape rose from the fog and frost-bitten ground. The flooded rice fields – glass-like and still – were filled with geese, ducks and coots. The sun broke through and cleared a path through the mist. Had I known the day […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Loss • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Jody Jones

To Dream A Garden

October 18, 2020 by Ogee

“I knew it would be bigger…but…” We had an honored guest in the garden this weekend. Laure is a master gardener and the original architect of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden going back more than ten years. Her design drawings are still housed in our shed, although the garden has morphed quite a bit over time. The plan called for themed beds. Some, like the White Garden and Rose Garden bed are still as intended. We found that others like […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature Photography • Tags: Asters, Fall Garden, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, To Dream A Garden

The Garden Calls For You

October 11, 2020 by Ogee

I arrived early that Sunday morning. Learning of her fall, I went to check on her. As she was loaded to the ambulance, I told her it would be okay. I knew in my heart it wouldn’t be – but who am I to argue with the power of prayer? We grieve the loss of our founder, leader, mentor, and friend. Her impact was immeasurable. The outpouring of love and sorrow at the news, indescribable. I have found it difficult […]

Categories: Friendship, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Loss, Rescue • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Jody Jones

Angel At The Bridge

July 8, 2020 by Ogee

There is a saying: “Wait for them at the bridge.” It is usually refers to a dog waiting for its faithful human companion(s) at the Rainbow Bridge, where dogs go—just this side of heaven—to run free and play, restored, until they can cross the bridge together with their human again. In this case, it was reversed. Cannela is the orphaned girl dog of an orphaned man. Homeless, they lived under a bridge in Mexico – a home that offered some […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Golden Retreiver Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Rescue • Tags: Humanity, Rescue Dogs

Look Up

May 17, 2020 by Ogee

My preference for a packed garden has led to some thuggery. I spent the day cutting back prized but overgrown California fuschias, cerinthe major (honeywort), and even California poppies to allow the verbascum, sea holly, and blazing star see the light of day. It’s a happy garden that grows so vigorously that it needs to be edited in May! Sometimes, gardeners get tunnel vision; all we see are the weeds and work. The same with rescue; the sad stories and […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Pets, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: Dog Fostering, dog rescue, Foster puppies, gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Look Up

Among the Flowers

May 3, 2020 by Ogee

A virus lurked among the flowers. Not of the pandemic kind. Or even the botanical kind. But of the completely preventable kind that ravages young puppies. They arrived from a breeder that had been hospitalized. Seven puppies of selling age: Heather, Iris, Lilac, Pansy, Poppy, Tulip and Rose. And two mama dogs. Clover and Dahlia. Beautiful, fragile flowers. How fragile, we would quickly discover. At four or five years of age (no one actually tracked her age), Dahlia’s body was […]

Categories: Dog Loss, Dog Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Rescue, Responsible breeders • Tags: dog rescue, Parvovirus, Puppies

Just Set Him Loose

April 12, 2020 by Ogee

Just set him loose. That’s what a local shelter told a woman who was trying to surrender a stray, six-month puppy after failing to find tags, a microchip, or its home after posting for over a week. In the time of COVID-19, if a dog is dangerous, obviously sick, or injured, the shelter will accept – and euthanize it. If it is healthy and safe, and the person is unable to keep it, they (unbelievably) advise setting it loose. In […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Shelters COVID-19

Perspective

April 5, 2020 by Ogee

A carrier pigeon arrived in the garden in late February. It spent the better part of the day just watching. It was not carrying a written message on its banded leg, but perhaps it foretold what was about to unfold. The ducks and geese mock us now. Public use areas have been closed due to COVID during the remainder of hunting season. The birds have found plenty of places to feast and fly – unmolested. We envy their togetherness. The […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Humanity, Nature • Tags: COVID VIrus, Solitude